GENIUS' LEGEND IS INSPIRING NORTHERN IRELAND'S NEXT WAVE

Ballerina’ who weaved way into our hearts

- BY IAN PARKER

AS a new generation of Northern Ireland players aim to get back to football's biggest stage, George Best remains an inspiration.

Almost half of Michael O'Neill's most recent squad were no older than five when 59-year-old Best died in 2005.

It is nearly 50 years since the Belfast-born genius last pulled on the green and white shirt, but Best's enduring influence remains.

“His legacy is absolutely massive,” said Northern Ireland and Exeter forward Josh Magennis.

"You talk about the best players in the world in terms of Peles and so on, and George Best is always in that conversation.”

Magennis, 35, remembers being surrounded by the iconography of Best (left) as he grew up on the Bloomfield estate in Bangor.

And he said Best remains a regular topic of conversation among players during camps.

“The boys are always asking me about playing with the likes of Jonny Evans, and then we watch the clips of George Best and they are in awe,” he said.